Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

Partisan composition of state legislatures

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
SLP badge.png
Partisan composition of state legislatures

Legislatures
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

See also
Historical partisan composition of state legislaturesPartisan composition of state senatesHistorical partisan composition of state senatesPartisan composition of state housesHistorical partisan composition of state houses
See also: Partisan composition of state houses and Partisan composition of state senates

The partisan composition of state legislatures refers to which political party holds the majority of seats in each state Senate and state House. On this page, you will find information on the partisan makeup of every state legislative chamber, including analysis, sortable tables, and interactive maps.

Ballotpedia tracks the partisan composition of each state legislative chamber to help readers understand which states are the most partisan or competitive. For instance, the battle over whether a political party has trifecta control of a state—a term to describe single-party government, when one political party holds the position of governor and majorities in both of the state's legislative chambers—depends on the partisan balance of each chamber. In some states, majority parties are large enough to override gubernatorial vetoes without any votes from members of the minority party.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • As of May 13, 2025, there are 1,973 state senators and 5,413 state representatives.
  • Across the lower chamber of state legislatures, Republicans control 2,985 seats to Democrats’ 2,391.
  • Across the upper chamber of state legislatures, Republicans control 1,124 seats to Democrats 833.
  • Rhode Island and Hawaii have the most Democratic legislatures by percent, with Democrats controlling 85.8% (97 seats) and 84.2% (64 seats) in those states, respectively.
  • West Virginia and Wyoming have the most Republican legislatures by percent, with Republicans controlling 91.8% (123 seats) and 91.4% (85 seats) in those states, respectively.
  • Minnesota and Pennsylvania have the most even legislatures by percent, with Democrats having a 0.5% (one seat out of 201 total) edge in Minnesota and a 1.2% edge (three seats out of 253 total) in Pennsylvania.[1]
  • Click on the following links to jump to:

    Overview

    As of September 9th, 2025, Republicans controlled 55.5% of all state legislative seats nationally, while Democrats held 43.68%. Republicans held a majority in 57 chambers, and Democrats held the majority in 39 chambers. Two chambers (Alaska House and Alaska Senate) were organized under multipartisan, power-sharing coalitions. One chamber (Minnesota House of Representatives) was split evenly between both parties.

    Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
    Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
    State senates 834 1,122 5 12
    State houses 2,392 2,977 20 24
    Total: 3,226

    4,099

    25

    36



    The map below shows the partisan composition of each state legislature by percentage Democrat and Republican. The darker the color, the higher the percentage of state legislative seats the majority party has in each state. The lighter the color, the smaller the percent difference in partisan composition. Hover on a state to get the breakdowns in each state.



    The pie chart below shows the overall partisan percentages across all 50 state legislatures.



    The table below shows the aggregate partisan composition of each state legislature.

    Partisan compositions of state legislatures nationwide by percent
    State Democratic Republican Independent or minor party Vacancies
    Alabama 26.4 71.4 2.1
    Alaska 38.3 53.3 8.3
    Arizona 44.4 55.6
    Arkansas 18.5 81.5
    California 75.0 24.2 0.8
    Colorado 66.0 34.0
    Connecticut 67.9 32.1
    Delaware 67.7 32.3
    Florida 26.9 70.6 0.6 1.9
    Georgia 43.6 55.9 0.4
    Hawaii 84.2 14.5 1.3
    Idaho 14.3 85.7
    Illinois 66.7 33.3
    Indiana 26.7 73.3
    Iowa 32.0 67.3 0.7
    Kansas 27.9 72.1
    Kentucky 19.6 80.4
    Louisiana 29.2 70.1 0.7
    Maine 51.6 47.3 0.5 0.5
    Maryland 72.3 27.7
    Massachusetts 83.5 15.0 0.5 1.0
    Michigan 48.0 51.4 0.7
    Minnesota 50.2 49.8
    Mississippi 32.2 66.1 1.1 0.6
    Missouri 31.5 68.0 0.5
    Montana 40.0 60.0
    Nebraska 28.6 67.3 4.1
    Nevada 63.5 36.5
    New Hampshire 43.6 55.9 0.2 0.2
    New Jersey 64.2 35.8
    New Mexico 62.5 37.5
    New York 67.1 32.4 0.5
    North Carolina 40.6 59.4
    North Dakota 11.3 87.9 0.7
    Ohio 32.6 67.4
    Oklahoma 17.4 79.9 2.7
    Oregon 58.9 40.0 1.1
    Pennsylvania 49.2 50.4 0.4
    Rhode Island 85.8 12.4 0.9 0.9
    South Carolina 27.6 71.8 0.6
    South Dakota 8.6 89.5 1.9
    Tennessee 22.7 77.3
    Texas 40.3 59.7
    Utah 19.2 79.8 1.0
    Vermont 57.2 38.3 4.4
    Virginia 51.4 48.6
    Washington 59.9 39.5 0.7
    West Virginia 8.2 91.8
    Wisconsin 45.5 54.5
    Wyoming 8.6 91.4
    Average 43.2 56.0 0.4 0.4

    State senates

    See also: Partisan composition of state senates

    The partisan composition of state senates refers to which political party holds the majority of seats in the state senate. Altogether, in the 50 state senates, there are 1,973 state senators.

    Cumulative numbers

    As of September 9, 2025, 1,956 state senators were affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties. This total is updated monthly.

    Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
    Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
    State senates 834 1,122 5 12
    State houses 2,392 2,977 20 24
    Total: 3,226

    4,099

    25

    36



    The table below shows the partisan composition of upper legislative chambers in each state.

    Partisan composition of upper legislative chambers nationwide by percent
    State Democratic Republican Independent or minor party Vacancies
    Alabama 22.9 74.3 2.9
    Alaska 45.0 55.0
    Arizona 43.3 56.7
    Arkansas 17.1 82.9
    California 75.0 25.0
    Colorado 65.7 34.3
    Connecticut 69.4 30.6
    Delaware 71.4 28.6
    Florida 25.0 67.5 2.5 5.0
    Georgia 41.1 57.1 1.8
    Hawaii 88.0 12.0
    Idaho 17.1 82.9
    Illinois 67.8 32.2
    Indiana 20.0 80.0
    Iowa 32.0 68.0
    Kansas 22.5 77.5
    Kentucky 18.4 81.6
    Louisiana 28.2 71.8
    Maine 57.1 42.9
    Maryland 72.3 27.7
    Massachusetts 87.5 12.5
    Michigan 50.0 47.4 2.6
    Minnesota 50.7 49.3
    Mississippi 30.8 69.2
    Missouri 29.4 70.6
    Montana 36.0 64.0
    Nebraska 28.6 67.3 4.1
    Nevada 61.9 38.1
    New Hampshire 33.3 66.7
    New Jersey 62.5 37.5
    New Mexico 61.9 38.1
    New York 63.5 34.9 1.6
    North Carolina 40.0 60.0
    North Dakota 10.6 89.4
    Ohio 27.3 72.7
    Oklahoma 16.7 81.3 2.1
    Oregon 56.7 40.0 3.3
    Pennsylvania 45.1 52.9 2.0
    Rhode Island 86.8 10.5 2.6
    South Carolina 26.1 73.9
    South Dakota 8.6 88.6 2.9
    Tennessee 18.2 81.8
    Texas 35.5 64.5
    Utah 20.7 75.9 3.4
    Vermont 53.3 43.3 3.3
    Virginia 52.5 47.5
    Washington 59.2 38.8 2.0
    West Virginia 5.9 94.1
    Wisconsin 45.5 54.5
    Wyoming 6.5 93.5
    Average 42.2 56.9 0.3 0.6

    State Houses

    See also: Partisan composition of state houses

    The partisan composition of state houses refers to which party holds the majority of seats in the state house or the lower level of each state legislature. Altogether, in the 49 state houses, there are 5,413 state representatives.

    Cumulative numbers

    As of September 9, 2025, 5,369 state representatives were affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican parties. This total is updated monthly.

    Partisan balance of all 7,386 state legislative seats
    Legislative chamber Democratic Party Republican Party Grey.png Other Vacant
    State senates 834 1,122 5 12
    State houses 2,392 2,977 20 24
    Total: 3,226

    4,099

    25

    36



    The table below shows the partisan composition of lower legislative chambers in each state. This table does not include Nebraska since it only has a Senate.

    Partisan composition of lower chamber of state legislatures nationwide by percent
    State Democratic Republican Independent or minor party Vacancies
    Alabama 27.6 70.5 1.9
    Alaska 35.0 52.5 12.5
    Arizona 45.0 55.0
    Arkansas 19.0 81.0
    California 75.0 23.8 1.3
    Colorado 66.2 33.8
    Connecticut 67.5 32.5
    Delaware 65.9 34.1
    Florida 27.5 71.7 0.8
    Georgia 44.4 55.6
    Hawaii 82.4 15.7 2.0
    Idaho 12.9 87.1
    Illinois 66.1 33.9
    Indiana 30.0 70.0
    Iowa 32.0 67.0 1.0
    Kansas 29.6 70.4
    Kentucky 20.0 80.0
    Louisiana 29.5 69.5 1.0
    Maine 50.3 48.3 0.7 0.7
    Maryland 72.3 27.7
    Massachusetts 82.5 15.6 0.6 1.3
    Michigan 47.3 52.7
    Minnesota 50.0 50.0
    Mississippi 32.8 64.8 1.6 0.8
    Missouri 31.9 67.5 0.6
    Montana 42.0 58.0
    Nevada 64.3 35.7
    New Hampshire 44.3 55.3 0.3 0.3
    New Jersey 65.0 35.0
    New Mexico 62.9 37.1
    New York 68.7 31.3
    North Carolina 40.8 59.2
    North Dakota 11.7 87.2 1.1
    Ohio 34.3 65.7
    Oklahoma 17.8 79.2 3.0
    Oregon 60.0 40.0
    Pennsylvania 50.2 49.8
    Rhode Island 85.3 13.3 1.3
    South Carolina 28.2 71.0 0.8
    South Dakota 8.6 90.0 1.4
    Tennessee 24.2 75.8
    Texas 41.3 58.7
    Utah 18.7 81.3
    Vermont 58.0 37.3 4.7
    Virginia 51.0 49.0
    Washington 60.2 39.8
    West Virginia 9.0 91.0
    Wisconsin 45.5 54.5
    Wyoming 9.7 90.3
    Average 43.8 55.4 0.4 0.4

    Changes in the number of seats

    2022

    See also: Redistricting

    As a result of redistricting conducted after the 2020 census, the number of state legislative seats in the country changed. Wyoming's new state legislative maps created one new Senate seat and two new House seats, resulting in 31 state Senators and 62 state Representatives. This increased the number nationally to 7,386 legislators—1,973 state senators and 5,413 state representatives.

    It is relatively uncommon for states to change their numbers of legislators during redistricting. New York increased its number of state Senators by one after both the 2010 and 2000 censuses. After the 2000 census, two states—North Dakota and Rhode Island—reduced their number of legislators in both chambers.

    Trifectas

    See also: State government trifectas

    The following table shows the status of state government—divided control, Democratic trifecta, or Republican trifecta—in each state. It also includes the year of the last change to each state's trifecta status.

    Percentage of Americans living under trifecta government

    The chart below shows the percentage of the population living under Democratic trifectas, Republican trifectas, and divided governments. Population figures are taken from the U.S. Census Bureau's July 2024 estimates.[2]

    Percent of Americans living under trifectas as of January 2025
    Total U.S. population Democratic trifectas Republican trifectas Divided governments
    339,408,738[3] 123,917,663 140,863,065 74,628,010
    100% 36.5% 41.5% 22.0%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau


    Election breakdowns

    See also: Historical partisan composition of state legislatures

    Click here for more on changes to partisan control of state legislative chambers over time.

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. A pair of resignations on July 17, 2024, left Republicans with more seats than Democrats in the chamber. However, a rule adopted in July 2023 defined the majority party as “the political party that won the greater number of elections for the 203 seats in the House of Representatives in the general election preceding the term of service that began on the first day of December next after the general election.” Because of this rule, Democrats maintained their majority.
    2. U.S. Census Bureau, "State Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024," accessed January 7, 2025
    3. Excludes the 702,250 inhabitants of Washington, D.C.